How to Propagate Hydrangeas - Multiply Your Plants for FREE!, by Anya Lautenbach on YouTube. 18 min 56 s.
- Video length
- 18 min 56 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Take your cuttings in late summer to early autumn. Look for shoots grown this season that still have soft tips but are firm and woody at the base.
Pick a healthy, vigorous shoot and cut it just below a node, where a pair of leaves joins the stem. Take more cuttings than you need.
Trim each cutting to about 10 to 15 cm long. Make the bottom cut just below a node and a straight cut at the top so you know which way is up.
Strip the leaves from the lower third of the stem. Keep two or three leaves at the top, and cut large leaves in half to reduce water loss.
Fill a small pot with cutting compost and firm it gently. Water it first so the mix is moist but not soaking.
Make a hole with a dibber or pencil and push the cutting in so the lowest node sits just below the surface. Firm the compost around the stem.
Water the pot again and put it in a light spot out of direct sun, such as a shaded greenhouse bench or a bright windowsill.
Keep the compost damp over the next few weeks. Check it every couple of days and never let it dry out completely or sit in water.
Watch for new growth on top and roots appearing at the base of the pot. Once rooted, pot the young plant into a larger container.
Tips and common mistakes
Secateurs are sharp, so always cut away from your fingers and clean the blades between plants.
Take several cuttings per pot or across a few pots, since not every one will root.
Label each pot with the variety and date so you can track progress.
A plastic bag over the pot can help hold moisture, but remove it for a few minutes each day to let air in.
Questions
When is the best time to take hydrangea cuttings?
Late summer into early autumn, when the current season's shoots have soft tips and firm, woody bases. This is what growers call semi-ripe wood.
How long before the cuttings root?
Expect a few weeks before you see new growth and roots at the base of the pot. Leave them in place until roots show clearly, then pot them on.
Do I need rooting hormone?
No, the method works without it. Some gardeners dip the base in rooting powder, but clean cuts and damp compost matter more.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
